Eating disorders – Malnutrition for women

Increasing number of individuals is being diagnosed with eating disorders, as social media and western culture portray thinness as signs of happiness and well-being.Individuals with eating disorders are obsessed with food, body image, and weight loss. Depending on the severity and duration of their illness, they may display physical symptoms such as weight loss, amenorrhea, loss of interest in sex, low blood pressure, depressed body temperature, chronic and unexplained vomiting and the growth of soft, fine hair on the body and face.There are four types of behavioral manifestations occurring from eating disorders:a) Anorexia nervosa b) Bulimia nervosa c) Binge eating disorder d) Eating disorder not otherwise specified.Today's theorists usually apply a multidimensional risk perspective to explain eating disorders, and identity several key factors that place a person at risk for an eating disorder: society's emphasis on thinness, family environment, ego deficiencies and cognitive disturbances, mood disorders and biological factors (including hypothalamic reactions to excessive dieting).Treatments for anorexic nervosa include increasing caloric intake and restoring the person's weight quickly. The next step is to address the underlying psychological problems, so that improvement may be lasting, by employing a mixture of individual, group and family therapies.Treatments for bulimia nervosa focus on eliminating the binge-purge pattern and addressing the underlying causes of the disorder. Often several treatment strategies are combined, including individual insight therapy, group therapy, behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications.